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Fancy a tuk tuk limo?
If you live in Thailand, you may someday be able to rent
a six-passenger electric tuk tuk “limo” for that very special occasion. This
was part of the message to the Pattaya City Expats Club on Sunday, August 4
from Dennis Harte, Thailand’s Managing Director of the Tuk Tuk Factory,
which manufactures custom electric tuk tuks in Thailand. He spoke about what
types of tuk tuks they make, where they sell them, and their future
marketing plans.
Speaker for Pattaya City
Expats Club for August 4th was Managing Director of the Electric Tuk Tuk
Company, Dennis Harte of Holland. They manufacture the vehicles in Samut
Prakarn (SE of Bangkok) for export to many countries.
Dennis is an industrial designer, engineer, and
entrepreneur. He told his audience that in the summer of 2007, there were 55
Thai tuk tuks introduced in Amsterdam as taxis. They were driven by students
for the summer tourist season. Customers loved them but each tuk tuk was
different and when it came time to repair them, the students did not know
how to do this. In addition, there were safety issues trying to adapt the
tuk tuks to European laws. Dennis said in 2007, he was hired to work on a
development project for the dynamic Tuk Tuk Company in the Netherlands (the
company that had imported the tuk tuks for use as taxis).
Dennis and his fellow entrepreneurs saw a business opportunity. They created
a new company in Holland - the Tuk Tuk Factory - with the idea of producing
electric tuk tuks. Dennis and his partners figured they could manage to keep
the costs down if they kept the specifications low. But this was 2008; the
start of the economic collapse, so money from investors was hard to come by.
Instead, Dennis recounted, the company asked for, and received, a subsidy
from the Dutch government to test different models of tuk tuks. In 2010, the
company formed a Thai partnership in Thailand to develop the electric
powered tuk tuks. During development, Dennis said, the company went through
three different prototypes before settling on one.
Touring in an Electric Tuk
Tuk.
In 2011, the Tuk Tuk Factory set up another Thai company
to manufacture the tuk tuks. Two models were produced, a basic
three-passenger model and a “limo” six-passenger one. In 2012, tons of paper
work later, and having obtained a licence, the company started production.
By March 2013, the first 100 tuk tuks had been manufactured. The Tuk Tuk
Factory is now producing 12 tuk tuks a month. The tuk tuks are all made to
order and customised to the buyer’s preferences. The company has 30
full-time employees, 18 in Thailand (production) and 12 in Amsterdam
(marketing). Dennis said that he was hopeful that 2013 would be the year
that his company starts to show a profit.
The three- and six-passenger models have a range of 70-80 kilometres (before
the battery has to be recharged) and can go at speeds of up to 50 kph. The
72-volt battery weighs 400 kg, almost half the weight of the vehicle.
Customers can choose from lithium or lead acid batteries. The company also
produces a cargo model, and a larger vendor model that can be used to sell
products from the back of the vehicle.
Electric Tu Tuk (Limo version)
used for tours in Paris.
Dennis mentioned that the market for the three- and
six-passenger tuk tuks in Europe is city tour companies, large hotels,
resorts, airports and exhibition halls. His company sold one tuk tuk to a
ski resort in Europe; that tuk tuk had to be able to drive through snow.
Further, he sees two marketing opportunities for electric tuk tuks in
Thailand; for use on islands and in cities. His company is currently looking
for a Thai distributor and has already received expressions of interest from
potential customers. Since the models they manufacture are intended for
foreign markets and must meet their standards, they are more costly than the
gasoline powered tuk tuks currently sold in Thailand; he said the
three-passenger model costs about 400,000 baht. The company hopes to produce
a lower-cost version in future for the Thai market.
Dennis concluded by
mentioning the unforeseen hazards that can befall new entrepreneurs -
including an accident that ended with a prototype submerged in a canal.
During the Question and Answer session, Dennis explained
that in comparison with golf carts, the tuk tuks are more exotic, offer a
choice of interior and exterior colours, and have a more powerful drive
train. Also, only the tuk tuks come in a six-passenger model.
Besides tuk tuks, Dennis’ other interests are cycling, running, sketching,
computer games, furniture design (he even constructs his own furniture),
travelling, and taking care of his exotic plants. To learn more about the
Tuk Tuk Factory, visit: www.tuktukfactory.com.
After Dennis’s presentation Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg brought
everyone up to date on upcoming events, then called on Roy Albiston to
conduct the interesting and informative open forum where questioned are
asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand.
To learn more about the Pattaya City Expats Club and its many activities,
visit
www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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President of Rotary Club of Phoenix-
Pattaya Rotary celebrates 75th birthday
After blowing out the candles,
Otmar Deter prepares to cut the cake with his loving wife Margret.
Elfi Seitz
The president of the Rotary Club of Phoenix-Pattaya had something else to
celebrate after his recent installation: his 75th birthday.
Having just taken over the office of president of the German-speaking club,
Otmar Deter welcomed guests to his July 23 party at the Thai Garden Resort.
About 50 friends showed, spared the usual Rotary fellowship donation as Deter
and his wife Margaret paid all expenses.
Deter welcomed his guests and expressed his gratitude, especially two past
district governors, Premprecha Dibbayawan and Pratheep Malhotra. Also attending
were the pastor of the protestant church in Pattaya Wolfgang Wagner and his
wife; Rev. Michael Picharn Jaiseri, president of the Father Ray Foundation and
new president of the Rotary Club of Pattaya; and director of the German-Thai
Chamber of Commerce Joerg Buck.
Along with the buffet and wine, Deter was treated to a visit
from German MP Jurgen Koppelin and hotel owner Gerrit Niehaus and his wife
Anselma.
Radchada Chomjinda, director of the Human Help Network Thailand, led children
from the Child Protection & Development Center in a dance for the guest of honor
while another group performed classical Thai dances during dinner.
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Austrian ambassador bids farewell to Thailand in Pattaya
Elfi Seitz
Austrian Ambassador Johannes Peterlik and his family said goodbye to Thailand
with a final stop at the Child Protection & Development Center in Pattaya.
Ambassador Johannes Peterlik
gives his farewell speech.
Radchada Chomjinda, director of the Human Help Network
Thailand, prepared the center’s multipurpose hall for the farewell lunch
attended by the embassy’s consul general and a few Rotary Club presidents, plus
children from the Mercy Center and Ban Jing Jai orphanage.
Peterlik completed his term as the country’s ambassador to Thailand Aug. 3.
Radchada expressed her gratitude toward the ambassador and his wife, who have
helped the center during their four-year term. The children also thanked the
ambassador and his family by performing a few dances. One featured
almost-authentic Austrian costumes.
Peterlik said he and his family were happy to help the children.
“Two years ago, my wife had the idea to give Christmas presents to the children.
Yet we didn’t want to do it the normal way,” he recalled. “The children were
brought to a big toyshop and they could choose whatever they wanted, without
looking at the price-tag. The two times we did this, were very special
experiences for us as well as for the children and we will surly never forget
it.”
Ambassador Johannes Peterlik
exchanges a gift with one of the performers.
Peterlik said Sumeth Sukapanpotharam, managing director of TM
Design Co. and his wife will continue the Christmas campaign.
Consul General Rudolf Hofer thanked the ambassador during a interview with
Pattaya Mail on TV. “Dr. Peterlik is a brilliant ambassador who retained his
heart besides being a politician. I am very sure we will hear about his
political advancement in the near future,” he said.
Peterlik said in his final interview with Pattaya Mail on TV that he left
Thailand once before.
“When I was a child, my father was the ambassador of Austria in Thailand and,
after four years, we had to leave. That time I promised myself to come back,
which I did. Now I will promise the same, be it only for vacation or maybe again
as a politician; one never knows.”
The ambassador’s lovely wife
Uschi Peterlik exchanges a gift with one of the dancers.
Director Radchada Chomjinda
(front left) introduces some of her co-workers.
The children thank the ambassador
and his family by performing a dance featuring Austrian costumes.
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British Foreign Legion raises 55,000 baht at Gurkha Curry Night
Sgt Major Hari Lal Pun MBE and the Gurkhas.
Paul Strachan
British Foreign Legion of Thailand’s planners were proved correct when they
thought they’d need a bigger venue for this year’s annual “Gurkha Curry Night.”
Jameson’s Irish Pub was filled to the rafters with ex-servicemen, Rotarians,
Freemasons, friends and staff for the popular evening where guests enjoyed
conversation and a selection of curries prepared by Gurkhas from Malaysia. More
than 55,000 baht was raised for the “poppy appeal.”
The July 28 event was the fourth held by the legion; the first was at the
embassy and the following two at Tropical Bert’s in Pattaya. But after last
year’s dinner, planners realized they needed more space for such a popular
evening. Jameson’s turned out to be a perfect fit.
Graham Macdonald (left) presents a certificate of
appreciation to Greg Watkins from the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, who
sponsored the first Gurkha Curry Night.
Secretary and welfare chairman Bert Elson, Chairman Derek Brook and President
Graham MacDonald hosted the event, with Brook praising Sgt. Maj. Hari Lal Pun
MBE and the other Gurkhas for preparing the curries. He also thanked Jameson’s
boss Kim Fletcher for providing the fixings and extended happy hour. It didn’t
hurt that it was his birthday as well.
An awards presentation followed, with recipients including Mick Newblatt from
the British Embassy’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Greg Watkins from the
British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, who sponsored the first Gurkha Curry
Night; and others who have supported the legion, including proprietors of
Patrick’s Belgium Restaurant and Pig & Whistle; May & David Haddon and Simon
Philbrook from MBMG; Earl Brown for poster design, Rodney Charman and Ron Smith
for a basic care worker course; and Joe Cox from Defense International Security
Services.
Chairman Derek Brook and President Graham MacDonald
present a certificate of appreciation to Mick Newblatt from the British
Embassy’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Thailand Riders fill up a corner of Jamesons all on
their own.
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